[ExI] Scientists discuss why we might not spot extraterrestrial civs

[BillK]

n Sat, 3 Aug 2024 at 00:21, Keith Henson <hkeithhenson at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> On Fri, Aug 2, 2024 at 1:39 PM BillK via extropy-chat
> <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:
>
> snip
>
> > A "Surely a society that can place enormous
> structures in space would be able to access nuclear fusion or other
> space-efficient methods of generating power."
>
> That's silly.  They have a star, and thermal power plants will let
> them capture 40 to 60%
>
> Keith
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I'm not sure what you are trying to say. Why is it silly?
To build a Dyson sphere will require tremendous resources in material
and energy.
It will be at least another 1,000 years before humans can even
consider a huge project like that.

At present, we are installing solar panels and batteries everywhere to
supply energy (and these are improving every year).
Within ten years we will have advanced AI and in probably 20 years,
fusion energy power plants will be developed. What other energy
sources might be developed in 100 or 1,000 years?
Anti-matter engines?  :)

If by then we already have developed enough energy sources on Earth,
why would we want to dedicate the whole planetary resources to building a Dyson
sphere?
This logic applies to every developing civilisation. That is what the
scientist from NASA Goddard and American University is referring to.
It seems a very reasonable idea to me.

BillK